The Senate Appropriations and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees are set to consider legislation on June 9 and 10 that would provide funding for water infrastructure upgrades.

On June 9 the Senate Appropriations Committee will consider Senate Bill 2 (Earll-R-Erie) that would provides $750 million from the Gaming Fund for drinking water, wastewater, flood control and high hazard dam projects. Action on the legislation was postponed from last week while changes were being considered to the bill.

On June 10 the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will consider Senate Bill 1341 (Musto-D-Luzerne) that asks voters to approve a $1 billion bond issue to help pay for wastewater plant upgrades.

The Environmental Committee will also consider legislation adopting the Great Lakes Compact and other bills including:

· Senate Bill 1408 (Wozniak-D-Cambria) and Senate Bill 1409 (Wozniak) authorizing the use of nonstructural alternatives to address flooding problems;

· House Bill 1705 (Harkins-D-Erie) adopting the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact; and

· House Bill 1742 (Pashinski-D-Luzerne) prevention of scrap material thefts.

Part of the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan to reduce nutrients from wastewater treatment plants and farms calls for $500 million in funding for treatment plants over the next seven years to help them meet this federal Clean Water Act mandate imposed by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) serves as Majority Chair and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair of the Committee.

6/6/2008